Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-22

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The plans below show a public park when it first opened in 1920 and the same park today.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

These two maps shows how Grange park was changed between 1920 and the present day.

Overall, the park has been modernized with a several new facilities added for visitor, while some original features have been removed .The rose gardens and entrances have been retained, but the layout has become more focused in recreation.

In 1920,the park had two rose gardens at the top corner and the another one is on the bottom left ,a fountain is in the center. And a glasshouse and pond for the water plant on the right of the. Seats were located near both entrances on Arnold avenue and Eldon street.

Today, the stage has been replaced by Amphitheatre for concerts on the left .The fountain is gone and a new rose garden has been built in the center with seats around it. The new water feature is built on right of the park. The glasshouse and pond has been removed

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the park in both 1920 and the present day. You provided a clear overview and made relevant comparisons, such as noting the removal of the glasshouse and the addition of the amphitheatre. However, the response lacks precision in describing the locations. For example, 'the another one is on the bottom left' is vague, and the description of the water feature is incomplete. To reach a higher band, ensure that all key features are accurately located and described with greater clarity, and avoid minor inaccuracies like stating the fountain was in the center when the map shows it elsewhere.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the two time periods. This structure helps the reader follow the progression of changes. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'And a glasshouse and pond for the water plant on the right of the.' The sentence structure within paragraphs is sometimes disjointed, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, which affects the flow of information. Improving the use of transition signals would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'modernized', 'retained', and 'replaced'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'the another one' and 'water plant' instead of 'water feature'. Additionally, there are some awkward phrasings like 'layout has become more focused in recreation'. While the vocabulary is adequate to convey the main points, it lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands. Expanding your repertoire of descriptive verbs and nouns related to map analysis would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('These two maps shows', 'glasshouse and pond has been removed') and missing articles or prepositions ('on right of the park'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and periods. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and article usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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